Anyone have any recent experience to update? Response times or partial requests?
Query sent: 4/24/09
Request for partial: 5/20/09
Response (R): 6/19/09
Anyone have any recent experience to update? Response times or partial requests?
She requested the first 5 chapters of my mss then after a month contacted me back and said it was very engaging, but was in dire need of editing. She went on to say she could edit it for a 'small fee' then re-emburse me the fee when she sold it to a publisher. I didn't reply back. If it were in dire need of editing like she claimed she would have refused it on that basis alone, or since she admitted it was 'engaging' she would have requested I do a complete edit and resubmit, not offer to fix it for me to sell. My gut feeling--Stay away.
I can second the editing fee -- she emailed me today telling me that the manuscript needed editing and that she would do it for $2 / page, and she also offered sample edits. I've declined working with her.
I just joined this site and besides a response to a 'welcome' PM this is the first thing I've written. I queried Ms. Picard about my first novel, she responded asking for the first two chapters which I sent, pasted in the body of the email. (FYI, I know of NO literary agent/agency that will 'open' any attachment. This is stated clearly in all Internet Agency websites and the Literary Agent Guides. So one cannot be surprised that an attachment was not opened.)
She liked what she read but also stated she felt it needed editing, something I KNEW would need to be done. Personally, I don't have any problem at all with an agent/agency offering these services. I don't see how that's a conflict of interest, in fact I feel just the opposite. She offers to reinburse her editing fee if she sells the book, that's fair. Who wants to work for free, I certainly don't. I'm part 'Vulcan'. If things don't make reasonable common sense to me I have difficulty them. Ms. Picard has been honest, upfront, and told me her opinions in an open manner. When she sent me the first four pages, edited, back to me, her changes were valid and I was pleased. If she had a problem almost ten years ago, I'm not going to hold that against her. I've had my problems in my life and I've learned from them. Who here hasn't????
From my experience with her to date, she has been a great help and I have total confidence in her. I can only offer what my own perspective has been.
As authors we need to be able to absorb constructive criticism and be open to suggestions. Even the 'Big Boys' need editing. Case in Point: Robert Crais has written eight or however many Joe Pike/Elvis Cole novels. In his stories, Elvis Cole drives a 1966 Corvette. From 63' through 67' Chevrolet spelled Sting Ray as TWO WORDS. In 1968 Chevrolet dropped the Sting Ray moniker from the Corvette, then revised it in 69' as one word: Stingray. Even through his latest novel, "The Sentry", Crais is still misspelling Elvis Cole's 1966 Corvette Sting Ray as 'Stingray'. You'd think by now someone would have caught that.
Back to the point. I can only suggest, strongly, that Ms. Picard be given an honest chance at viewing someone's work.
A couple of months ago, in response to a query, she requested I send her a few chapters as an attachment. I did. She sent me an email rejection. Only problem was, she NEVER opened the attachment with the chapters. (I have an email tracking program.) I asked her about that, but she ignored the letter. Very strange
DO YOUR RESEARCH AND DOUBLE CHECK ANYTHING YOU MIGHT READ IN A GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS AGAINST THEIR WEBSITE.
What's her website addy? I couldn't find it . . .
I recently heard from another writer to whom Picard offered paid editing services along with representation. She apparently stopped doing this for several years, but it appears that she's now back to her original M.O., about which Writer Beware received a number of complaints in the late 1990's and early 2000's.
This really is a conflict of interest. If the agent can make money from recommending editing, how can you trust that the recommendation is being made in your best interest?
Many agents do work with their clients to edit and polish manuscripts before submitting--but they don't charge fees for this. It's part of the service their 15% commission will ultimately pay for (and they accept the risk that the project may not sell). If an agent does offer paid editing (or other adjunct) services, it's best that they maintain a wall between the two sides of the business--i.e., agency clients are never offered paid editing, and editing clients are never accepted for representation.
Promising to refund editing fees if there's a publishing offer isn't as generous as it seems. If the agent sells your book she has to give the money back--but if she doesn't sell your book, she gets to keep it. Essentially, you're paying her for failing.
- Victoria
I read a recent article saying that publishers are taking more chances now on newer authors than they are on established midlist authors.
Exactly. This is true of my agent, of the agents of the professional writers I know, and there are also plenty of agented writers here at AW who report the same thing. It truly is not the norm for an agent to charge a client for editing services.There are a lot of agents out there who will work personally with clients on editing without charge.